CIUDS. 201 



be possessed of; and, for this purpose, tlic usual method of 

 comiiifj at the young is, by cutting down tlie tree. In the fall 

 of the tree it often hajjpens that the young parrots are killed ; 

 but if one of them survives the shock, it is considered as a suffi- 

 cient recompence. 



Such is the avidity with which these birds are sought when 

 young ; for it is known they always speak best when their ear 

 has not been anticipated by the harsh notes of the wild ones. 

 But as the natives are not able upon all occasions to supply the 

 demand for young ones, they are contented to take the old -, and 

 for that purpose shot them in the woods with heavy arrows, 

 headed with cotton, which knock down the bird without killing 

 it. The parrots thus stunned are carried home : some die, but 

 others recover, and, by kind usage and plentiful food, become 

 talkative and noisy. 



But it is not for the sake of their conversation alone that the 

 parrot is sought after among the savages j for though some of 

 them are but tough and ill-tasted, yet there are other sorts, par- 

 ticularly of the small parakeet tribe, that are very delicate food. 

 In general it obtains, that whatever fruit or grain these birds 

 mostly feed upon, their flesh partakes of the flavour, and be- 

 comes good or ill-tasted, according to the quality of their parti- 

 cular diet. When the guava is ripe, they are at that season fat 

 and tender ; if they feed upon the seed of the acajou, their flesh 

 contracts an agreeable flavour of garlic ; if they feed upon the 

 seed of the spicy trees, their flesh then tastes of cloves and cin- 

 namon ; while, on the contrary, it is insupportably bitter if the 

 berries they feed on are of that quality. The seed of the cot- 

 ton-tree into>dcates them in the same manner as wine does man ; 

 and even wine itself is drunk by parrots, as Aristotle assures us, 

 by which they are thus rendered more talkative and amusing. 

 But of all food, they are fondest of the carthamus, or bastard saf- 

 fron ; which though strongly purgative to man, agrees perfectly 

 with their constitution, and fattens them in a very short time. 



Of the parakeet kind in Brazil, Labat assures us, that they are 

 the most beautiful in their plumage, and the most talkative 

 birds in nature. They are very tame, and appear fond of man- 

 kind ; they seem pleased with holding parley with him ; they 

 never have done ; but while he continues to talk, answer iiim, 

 and appear resolved to have the last word : but they are pos. 



